Tokyobike was founded by Ichiro Kanai in the Tokyo suburb of Yanaka and by now has opened several international branches all over the world, from New York to Singapore. While checking out the atmosphere at the Bangkok Bike Festival 2017, which was recently held at Makkasan Station in Bangkok, I stopped by the Tokyobike Thailand booth to have a chat with the owner.
Are these bikes really from Tokyo?
Actually, they were originally designed for Tokyo in 2002 and the intention was to have bicycles that are really suitable for city use because the founder discovered that a lot of people use bikes to commute when they’re in Tokyo, but they’re either mud bikes or road bikes…
So it’s just like a city bike…
Right, they don’t really serve the purpose of riding in the city, so these are a kind of bikes that are design to enjoy your ride, enjoy your journey as much as get to your destination.
Are they popular in Tokyo? I was in Tokyo in 2013 and I didn’t really see them…
Well, the thing is, in Japan there are so many bicycle brands and we are a very small independent company; all our locations are very unique, they’re not centralized.
So Tokyobike Thailand is a local branch, right?
Yes, we are the authorized distributor for Thailand.
Alley in Asakusabashi – Tokyo
What’s special about these bikes?
The concept is ‘Tokyo Slow’ so it is intended for you to enjoy the ride as much as the journey. It’s really lightweight, it’s really easy to manoeuvre in the city, and it’s designed to carter to the needs of those who want to get around the city. And, if you know Tokyo well, there are many smaller streets and alleys and these bikes are really great in getting around in Tokyo.
How was this Tokyobike received by the Thai public?
A lot of people already knew about the brand before we even lunched, so the first year that we came to the Bangkok Bike Fest at Makkasan Station in Bangkok, it was really popular.
How long have you been operating in Bangkok?
We’ve been around for three years now. On our first year a lot of people came to test ride, I would say around 100 people each day. So, we have quite a group of customers who are interested, who like the simple design.
It’s true, the bikes are very stylish…
Yes, I think the signature thing is not just the simple design but also the colours. Some models, like the Classic Sport, could come up into 12 colours. Sometimes customers decide on the model, but deciding on the colour is another issue.
What’s the price tag?
This one, the Classic Sport, goes for 26.300 baht.
That’s a good price actually. Is it a pro bike, would you say it’s a high-end bike?
I would say it’s a mid-range bike because you see bikes that over a 100.000 baht and you can go for monthly instalment for as long as 5 years; that’s like paying for a car, right? I think our bikes are kind of mid-range, they’re affordable. Now we have about 10-month instalment plans without any interest, so that’s a pretty good deal.
It’s a beautiful bicycle…
Yes, I use one myself; I had mine for 3 years – almost 4 years now. It’s really low maintenance too, it doesn’t require a lot of technical services. I really love my bike and I’m taking it around and we’ve gone cycling in Japan too. I’m taking my bike everywhere. I love my bike.
Thank you so much. If I’m ever buying a bike, is going to be a Tokyobike.
Thank you.
Watch my UpLife Interview with Tokyobike Thailand:
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I am interested in a buying a 55 cm Tokyo Bijou in saffron color. Who can I contact to see if one is available.
Thank you.
Contact the seller directly. I gave the links in the article.